Venturing out of my shell
I am sharing a shrimp recipe, so this blog title is fitting. But what I really want to share is the story of the slow transformation I’ve been going through, from being a cloistered hermit to a careful but elated extrovert. I’ve always been a social creature, but the pandemic put an end to that for all of us for a while. I became a widow at the peak of the pandemic during the first summer, with no vaccines and significant restrictions on travel and social gatherings. I was experiencing the solitude of living alone and missing my companion, compounded by the isolation I endured and a visceral fear of the virus. It was a shock to discover that I had turned into an introvert over time, a willing prisoner! I had to convince myself to go out and do things. I felt like turning down all invitations and just staying home. It’s so easy to be trapped! My inner voice said: “Stay home and do nothing!” I am sure that many people ...